For the moment nothing worse happened than an offer of food—figs and cucumbers it was, and very pleasant.
“I see,” said the Captain, “that you are from a far country. Since you have honoured my boat by appearing on it, you must stay here till morning. Then I will lead you to one of our great ones. He loves strangers from far lands.”
“Let’s go home,” Jane whispered, “all the frogs are drowning now. I think the people here are cruel.”
But the boys wanted to stay and see the lines taken up in the morning.
“It’s just like eel-pots and lobster-pots,” said Cyril, “the baskets only open from outside—I vote we stay.”
So they stayed.
“That’s Tyre over there,” said the Captain, who was evidently trying to be civil. He pointed to a great island rock, that rose steeply from the sea, crowned with huge walls and towers. There was another city on the mainland.
“That’s part of Tyre, too,” said the Captain; “it’s where the great merchants have their pleasure-houses and gardens and farms.”
“Look, look!” Cyril cried suddenly; “what a lovely little ship!”
A ship in full sail was passing swiftly through the fishing fleet. The Captain’s face changed. He frowned, and his eyes blazed with fury.